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South West Rugby Sevens News FeedSW Rugby 7s returns to Exeter
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The SW Rugby 7s returns to Exeter this July and organisers are encouraging teams to enter to avoid missing out.

Last year’s sell-out tournament was the second time the competition had run alongside the Mitsubishi Motors Exeter 7s, and will again run on the same dates as the European tournament – 15th & 16th July 2017.

Teams will be competing for their share in a healthy prize fund and can secure their place in either a men’s or ladies’ competition with just a £20 deposit.

The majority of the competition will be played at Exeter University’s Topsham Sports Ground, with finals being played on Sandy Park’s hallowed turf.

Camping has been introduced for the first time this year, with SW Rugby 7s teaming up with local campsite Crealy Meadows to provide a special offer for teams looking for affordable accommodation for the weekend.

Marc Dibble, competition organiser, said: “Last year’s tournament was a great success and we are looking to make this year even bigger and better.

“The SW Rugby 7s and Mitsubishi Motors Exeter 7s will be an awesome display of rugby 7s across all levels and a great promotion of the game following its Olympic debut last summer.”

]]>Wed, 22 Mar 2017 15:24:00 UTCSouth West 24Sevens to be held at SW Rugby 7s
http://swrugby7s.co.uk/news/south-west-24sevens-be-held-sw-rugby-7s/
For the second year the SW Rugby 7s will run alongside the South West regional finals of the RFU's 24sevens competition.

The community sevens series aims to continue to grow sevens rugby and increase participation among men and women. Over 6,000 players participated in last year's competition, which culminated at Saracen's Allianz Park.

Local qualifier winners in the 'open' tier, where men's and women's sevens teams and community clubs can enter, will progress to one of four regional play-offs - the north, midlands, south-east and the south-west - across two weekends in July. This year's final will culminate in a showpiece national final event hosted by England Rugby at the Recreation Ground in Bath on the 29th July.

For the second successive year, the home of top flight rugby in the Westcountry will play host to Rugby Europe’s top 12 countries in the second leg of their Grand Prix Series.

Bringing together the elite stars of Sevens rugby in Europe, thousands are expected to descend on Sandy Park over the weekend for what promises to be an ideal curtain-raiser ahead of next month’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The Sevens stars, which includes two Great Britain teams, will use the highly competitive Exeter 7s competition as the final chance to book themselves on a plane to Brazil for the Olympics.

The Exeter 7s is one of three venues that the Grand Prix Series stops off in with Russia claiming the spoils in their home event in Moscow last month, before the competition concludes in Gydnia, Poland later this month.

TICKETING & TIMINGS

Tickets for the weekend event, which will run alongside the SW Rugby 7s tournament – which will be staged across Sandy Park and Topsham Sports Ground – have been selling well, but there is still capacity for even more people to join in the fun and frolics.

You will need to print your e-ticket before coming to the stadium then exchange this for a wristband, which will gain you entry into the stadium.

Supporters can collect wristbands in advance, by visiting the Trading Post, which is open Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 4:30pm.

The ticket office itself will open on both days from 9:30am with the action starting at 11:30am.

SANDY PARK & TOPSHAM SPORTS GROUND

On Saturday 9th the social tournament will be played on the rubber crumb at Sandy Park, with the women's tournament being played at Topsham Sports Ground. The men's open will also begin on Saturday 9th, with their knock out rounds played on Sunday 10th. The finals of the RFU 24/Seven Series are being held at Topsham Sports Ground on Saturday 9th and the final leg of this year's Super 7s Series will be on Sunday 10th. The finals of the open, RFU 24/Sevens and Super 7s Series will be played at Sandy Park.

ENTERTAINMENT

For those supporters attending the Exeter 7s, please note that the stadium will open on both days from 9:30am and will be open until late with live music on Saturday evening featuring Stillyano, Big Foot and Danny’s Disco.

Guests without tickets to the 7s are welcome to come to Sandy Park after 7pm on either Saturday or Sunday to enjoy the entertainment on offer.

The West Grandstand will be open on a first come, first served basis for seats, while bars and food outlets will be open throughout the course of both days.

There will also be a ‘Wild West’ themed fancy dress competition, which will offer a prize of a pair of tickets to England v Fiji on Saturday 19th November.

Running alongside the tournament will be a special Fan Zone, located behind the SW Comms Stand, as well as the Wild West Real Ale and Cider Festival in the Wigwam Bar.

PARKING

Supporters should note there is no on-site parking at Sandy Park for this event, so those travelling by cars are advised to use the parking available at nearby Digby and Sowton Park & Ride.

Please note normal match-day shuttles and bus routes will not be in operation for this weekend’s event.

Parking for Topsham Sports Ground will be at Collingwood's B&B, which will be signposted.

]]>Wed, 06 Jul 2016 13:40:00 UTCSW Rugby 7s to return in July 2016
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With confirmation of the European Grand Prix 7s returning to Sandy Park next summer, organisers of SW Rugby 7s can announce that entries are now being accepted to the tournament.

The Exeter-based competition ran for the first time this summer alongside the European 7s, and will do so again on the 9th and 10th July 2016.

Teams will be competing for their share in a £1500 prize fund and can secure their place in the competition with just a £20 deposit.

Alongside an invitational Men’s Elite tournament, there will be Open and Social Men’s and Women’s tournaments.

The majority of the competition will be played at Exeter University’s Topsham Sports Ground, with the finals of the Elite and Open competitions being played at Sandy Park, home of Aviva Premiership team the Exeter Chiefs.

Marc Dibble, organiser of the competition, said: “We’ve taken on board feedback from teams that entered last year’s competition to ensure that next year will be bigger and better.

“The SW Rugby 7s and European 7s will be an awesome display of rugby 7s across all levels and a great promotion of the game ahead of its Olympic debut the following month.”

]]>Fri, 06 Nov 2015 13:35:00 UTCEuropean GP 7s to return to Exeter
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Europe’s top Rugby Sevens stars will be heading back to Exeter next July after it was confirmed Sandy Park will again host the final leg of the Rugby Europe 2016 Grand PRIX 7s series.

Thousands of spectators packed into the Devon venue for this year’s hugely successful event, which brought together Europe’s top 12 countries for two days of thrilling on-field action.

As one of the 13 venues for this year’s Rugby World Cup, Sandy Park is ideally placed amongst a hot bed of rugby in the South West, creating an ideal opportunity for supporters from around the region, and further afield, to enjoy yet more international rugby following the success of three sell-out Rugby World Cup fixtures at Sandy Park.

The 2016 leg of the tournament at Sandy Park will take place on July 9 and 10 – with competing teams confirmed in due course.

Speaking about the appointment, Exeter Chiefs Chief Executive, Tony Rowe OBE said: “As a club we’re delighted that Sandy Park has again been chosen as a venue for the Rugby Europe 2016 Grand PRIX 7s series.

“Fresh from hosting three fantastic Rugby World Cup games, we know Sandy Park has the ability to provide the perfect setting for supporters to come along and see international players in action.

“This year’s European Sevens event was a great success for everyone involved and we believe the 2016 Series will be even bigger and better.”

Commenting on the announcement, Rugby Europe President and IOC Member Octavian Morariu said: “Coming back to Exeter with the 7’s Grand Prix Series is a huge exciting in many respects. The organization of the event and the atmosphere across the weekend were absolutely amazing in this summer. It is the perfect symbol of Rugby Europe’s objectives: the XV game and the RWC, sevens rugby and the Olympics.

“Indeed, the Exeter leg in 2016 will be the last one before Rio and one which will witness the best of the 12 European teams. Finally, the opportunity to work again with the RFU and Exeter Chiefs is one which everyone at Rugby Europe is looking forward too.”

Cllr Rosie Denham, Lead Councillor for Economy and Culture said: “This is great news for the city. We’ve put Exeter on the world map this year with the Rugby World Cup 2015 and to be told that Sandy Park is to host this prestigious competition once again is the icing on the cake.” The Rugby Europe Seven at Sandy Park, catch them if you can! July 9 & 10 2016.

The best costume seen by organisers on the Saturday will win two tickets to the England v France QBE International game taking place at Twickenham on August 15th.

Entertainment for Saturday evening at Sandy Park has been confirmed as Carnaby Street and Silverlight, with music continuing until 1am. There will also be live music on Sunday evening, with Sandy Park favourites Eventine taking the stage in the Exeter Suite.

]]>Mon, 29 Jun 2015 10:59:00 UTCAmor 'Excited' for Exeter
http://swrugby7s.co.uk/news/amor-excited-exeter/
England Sevens coach Simon Amor says he and his squad will be looking to make the most of home advantage when they feature in the final round of this season's European Grand Prix Sevens Series.

With England set to head to Moscow this weekend (June 6-7) then Lyon a week later, Amor's side will return to home shores for the final leg, which will take place at Exeter's Sandy Park over the weekend of July 11-12.

Having finished the World Series strongly reaching the semi-finals of the London Sevens at a packed Twickenham, Amor is hoping for an equally strong showing against the likes of Russia, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy and France.

"We've got Moscow and Lyon coming up shortly, so a lot of the guys who played in the World Series will get a bit of a break," said Amor. "But at the same time, that will give us an opportunity to throw a few of the younger guys and some of the younger management into the action.

"Then in the second week of July we've got the Exeter Sevens, so that will be a really exciting tournament. We will have all of our best guys up and running for that and we'll give it a real good go."

Certainly Amor has seen plenty of positives from his squad over the course of the World Series to give him confidence ahead of the European battle.

Reflecting on the season to date, Amor added: "We're really encouraged moving forward. It was tough at the start as we picked up a few injuries and our resources were stretched, but the way the guys have grown has been outstanding.

"The mental strength they've shown has been key. We got the win in Tokyo, got to the final in Wellington and then finished with a third and fourth, so I'm very proud of the team."

England have shown they can compete with the very best this term, but Amor insists his team have to keep working hard as the standard of competition is rising all the time.

"It's just so competitive these days," continued Amor. "The standard these days is outstanding, so it makes it tough for as coaches because we want to win every game. For the neutral, though, they must absolutely love it!"

Tickets for the Exeter leg are priced at £15 for a day pass for Saturday or Sunday, or £25 for a weekend pass which includes entry to the Friday night event. Children’s tickets are also available £7.50 per day or £10 for a weekend pass. Tickets can be bought here.

]]>Wed, 03 Jun 2015 15:14:00 UTCExeter Sevens Event gets Global Backing
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Although they won’t be part of the upcoming European Grand Prix Sevens Series in Exeter, members of Australia’s HSBC World Sevens squad have given their backing to this summer’s major event at Sandy Park.

Fresh from competing in the grand final of the London Sevens at Twickenham last weekend against the USA, the young Aussies were quick to show their support for the GP Series, which also takes in rounds in Russia and France.

Skipper Ed Jenkins, along with team-mates Jessie Parahi, Thomas Cusack, Greg Jeloudev and James Stannard were all happy to pose with posters for the Exeter event, which will take place over the weekend of July 10-12.

With Olympic qualification in Rio on the line for a number of the competing countries, the weekend promises to be an important weekend in the overall Sevens calendar and is set to attract plenty of attention globally as teams battle it out for honours.

Joining home unions England, Scotland and Wales in the, which kicks-off in Moscow on June 6 and runs in Lyon a week later, are Russia, Spain, Belgium, Georgia, Portugal, Germany, Italy and Lithuania.

John Wood, Head of Corporate at Exeter Rugby Club, said: “I was at Twickenham at the weekend and the buzz that gets generated around big tournaments like the London Sevens is huge these days.

“I have no doubt that having seen some of the talent, pace and skills on show in London that anyone heading for Exeter will be equally entertained by those teams and players in action.”

With adult tickets available at £15 a day – or weekend passes for just £25 – the event promises to deliver an amazing spectacle both on and off the field. Child prices are £5 for a day or £7.50 for the weekend.

Tickets for the European Grand Prix Sevens Series in Exeter can be purchased by clicking here

]]>Mon, 18 May 2015 14:50:00 UTCTeam to win free entry to 7s
http://swrugby7s.co.uk/news/team-win-free-entry-7s/
Organisers of the inaugural South West Rugby 7s are offering one lucky team the chance to play at the tournament for free.

Teams that enter the South West Rugby 7s before April 30th will be entered into a draw to have their entry fee refunded, which includes 10 passes to the European Grand Prix 7s taking place at Sandy Park on the same weekend.

The new 7s tournament, which has already attracted several teams, will take place between the 10th and 12th of July – starting with an opening party on the Friday night and continuing with rugby action throughout the weekend.

The South West Rugby 7s is open to all with Elite and Social Men’s and Women’s competition, plus a Mixed Touch competition, happening across two venues – Exeter University’s Duckes Meadows and Sandy Park.

Camping and Glamping packages are available at nearby Crealy Meadows, with regular transport between all venues included as part of team entry.

As well as SW Rugby 7s and European GP 7s action, players can look forward to a host of other off-field activities and entertainment, including live bands and DJs, a festival village and much more.

Tournament organiser, Marc Dibble, said “we’re looking forward to a great weekend of rugby and are offering this incentive to get as many teams involved as we can.”